A string of attacks in several parts of Iraq killed 46 and injured almost 300 on Monday. The upsurge of violence came as Iraqis prepare to go to polls for their first election since the withdrawal of US troops.

Officials said bombings hit 12 different areas of Iraq, leaving 46 people dead and making Monday the country's deadliest day since March 19, AFP reported.

According to Itar-Tass, the death toll has already risen to 55 people.

Ten casualties were reported in Baghdad, and insurgents also targeted areas north and south of the capital. The oil-rich city of Kirkuk, where tensions over resources have recently been particularly high, saw nine of its residents killed. The western Sunni city of Fallujah, the former Al-Qaeda stronghold of Baqouba and Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit also saw attacks.

the quarter million (or more) dead Iraqis while we're at it. Or maybe the millions of people that were displaced, rendered homeless, or ruined in one way or another. War is fucking hell, and if we think the effects are limited to the money we spent and the troops we lost and the "advantages" we may or may not have gained... well then i'd say, we learned NOTHING.

I will welcome our troops home and hope they never have to fight another war (just or unjust). I hope to see troops returning and becoming Public Servants (local, regional, state and fed government)... and that they will use the life-changing experiences they lived through for the "power of good". I hope.